Volunteers make all the difference in a program like Community Ministries. If they are kind, caring, and interested in the kids, the kids know it and keep coming back.
Many times we think that volunteers, especially those who work with at risk youth, as special people, different from the rest of us, more knowledgeable and bearing special gifts or experience. But so often, special volunteers are people who are just like us.
So what makes a special volunteer? It’s not knowledge (although that always helps) or experience (although that also helps). It’s attitude. An attitude of openness and care, an attitude that is open to the lessons that God gives us, an attitude that puts the kids first.

Maybe it was put best by one of our volunteers a few months ago as she talked about her experiences.
“I often leave Tuesday nights feeling like I really didn’t make a difference, or I didn’t handle something the best that I could have. I’ve never done anything like teen club before, so I’m really trying to learn as I go. I feel like I’m getting more out of the experience than I’m contributing. I’ve gone home in tears a few times, just thinking about the kids and what I’d learned that night. The night I brought JT home, he put his headphones on when he got in the car but when he saw me turn the radio on to 104.5 he took them out. So I started talking to him, just about random stuff. He said how he’s trying to make better decisions this year, and he wishes Trinity met every night so he’d have something positive to do. He said something about how his mom was really struggling because she wasn’t working, and he didn’t have a bus pass, so it’s hard to get to Trinity sometimes. I was surprised how he just opened up to me. I realized that night how incredibly fortunate I am to have the car that I have. Yes, it’s old and sort of falling apart, but it runs well and it’s mine. I have so much more than so many people, and for that I AM thankful. I can certainly tell you, I take a LOT less for granted these days. I’m in this for the long haul, Donna. And I’m glad you’re patient with the newbies like me.”
‘I get more out of this than I put into it.’ Isn’t that what were all looking for, deep down inside, something that gives real meaning to our time, something that not only allows us to ‘do good’ but nurtures us as well?
The Community Ministries volunteers are a special group. And it’s their attitude that makes them special.
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